Half of Yemenis Who Fled to Europe Last Year Chose Netherlands as Their Destination

The Netherlands has recorded an increase in the number of asylum seekers reaching the country from Yemen in the last two years.

According to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), almost half of Yemenis who fled to Europe last year chose the Netherlands as their destination, becoming one of the main countries of origin, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

“An analysis by the IND shows that last year almost half of the Yemenis who fled to Europe chose the Netherlands as their destination. This makes our country a popular destination in the EU for Yemenis seeking asylum,” the statement of IND reads.

IND reveals that of the total number of first-time asylum applications filed in 2022, seven per cent of them were of nationals of Yemen. The same noted that in 2021, the percentage stood at three per cent.

The number of Yemenis choosing to flee to Europe started to increase significantly following the country’s civil war, and taking into account the security situation in Yemen, the majority of asylum seekers from the country have a high chance of obtaining a residence permit.

According to IND, 93 per cent of asylum applications filed by nationals of Yemen receive a positive decision. The same stressed that the trend keeps increasing, suggesting that the country expects to record more asylum applications this year.

“From 2018, a clear increase in the Yemeni community can be seen in the Netherlands. There are signs that Yemenis on their way to the Netherlands possess remarkable knowledge of Dutch laws and regulations,” IND stressed.

IND further emphasised that the majority of asylum applicants from Yemen are men and noted that most are highly educated, which makes it easier for them to find a job and integrate.

The Netherlands keeps on registering a high number of asylum applications from other countries too. Previously, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that in January 2023, the Netherlands recorded 2,991 asylum applications.

Syria and Türkiye represented the two main countries of origin, with their nationals filing 638 and i63 asylum applications, respectively, in January 2023.

The Netherlands registered a high number of applications filed by nationals of Somalia, Yemen, and Algeria, too. Data show that in January 2023, nationals of Somalia filed 161 asylum applications in the Netherlands, nationals of Yemen filed 156 applications, and nationals of Algeria filed 153 applications.

The number of asylum applications submitted by minors in January 2023 remained high too, standing at 261. The main countries of origin for minor applicants in January of this year were Syria, Somalia, and Eritrea.